[2021] The Dickens you say

      
If only changing who you are      
was that easy of a task      
---being visited by three spirits      
in a single night and having      
the errors of your ways      
laid out on the table      
in linear fashion      
     
but for some . . .      
     
Well, it's more convenient      
to just sweep that whole      
messy deck of cards      
right off the table!      
     
with a dramatic      
slight of hand gesture      
directed at the Dealer      
     
and return to polishing      
the silverware to perfection      
during the latest in a long      
succession of lifetimes;      
     
especially any platters      
for admiring one's self      
i.e.      
God forbid tarnish      
in your reflections      
is revealed to guests      
reveling at the dinner table      
leaving them reviled      
     
The only thing that matters?      
     
is perception      
     
Everything else?      
     
is all humbug!